500 Census counters needed

Etowah County is in need of more than 500 more people to help collect information for the 2020 census. According to Robert Avery, an assistant recruiter with the U.S. Census Bureau, said on Tuesday that 189 are currently qualified within the county.

“We have a small problem here in Etowah County,” Avery said to county commissioners during a work session on Tuesday. While some areas of the county have enough coverage, some areas have no one signed up to work.

Sardis City and areas around the Egypt community and between Steele and Attalla currently have no applicants, but anyone in the county can reply.

The peak operations for the census will come early this fall, and recruiting workers now will give them time for evaluation and training before they are needed out in the field.

“Right now, they’re looking to hire people who will be responsible for verifying addresses in the county,” Avery said.

Counter duties will transition to door-to-door canvassing later in the season as they contact residents who have not responded online, over the phone, or by mail. Going from door to door presents a need for local members of the community to work for the census, as people are more likely to respond to a neighbor they know.

Filling in positions with someone who lives there will also help with the accuracy of the count, as people are more likely to know their way around the area. Getting the count correct is important, Avery and commissioners said.

The count affects federal funding to cities and counties for healthcare, education, roads and more.

“All of that goes back to the census,” he said. “So it’s very important that we get an accurate count.”

Assistant County Engineer Robert Nail and Chief Financial Officer Kevin Dollar also said that the census count would play a role in the distribution of the new Alabama gas tax revenue.

It goes beyond funding, though. Commission Chairman Joey Statum said the census would affect commission districts across the count.

“If we don’t get the right count, we stand to lose a congressional seat,” Avery added. “There’s been a lot of emphasis put on Alabama and making sure we get an accurate count.”

Census takers can earn between $13.50 and $15 per hour and work up to 40 hours a week on their own schedule. Anyone U.S. Citizen over the age of 18 with a valid Social Security number is eligible to apply. Employees should have access to a vehicle and a valid driver’s license, as well.

Three days of training is also paid for, including mileage if travel is required for training. Mileage is paid during census work at a rate of 58 cents per mile.

Those interested can apply to work for the 2020 Census or find more information at www.2020census.gov/jobs